Hand fence-machine



(NO Model) W.W. BARKER. HAND FENCE MACHINE.

` 10,585,420 PatentedJun 29,1897.

llNiTnp STATES PATENT OFFICE) VILLIAM VALLAOE BARKER, OF PIKE COUNTY, MISSOURI.

HAND FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,420, dated .T une 29, 1897.

Application filed July 23,1896. Serial No. 600,289. (No model.)

To all whom, t worry concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WALLACE BAKKER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Pike (Middletown P. O.) and State of Missouri, have invented a new v and useful Fence-llachine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to han d-machines for constructing fencing composed of lon gitudinal wires and vertical pickets, the latter being secured between compari ion wires by twisting the latter between the pickets, the twisting being effected after each'picket has been placed in position. -T

The object of the present invention is to provide for the ready insertion and removal of the line or fence wires from the openings in the twisting-bars and to secure the said wires in place against accidental displacem ent when the machine is in operation without requiring extra fastenings or additional means for attaining this end.

The invention also aims to simplify and improve the general construction of this class of machines, and for a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description,

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of picket-fencing, showing the improved machine in operative relation. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a twisting-bar and its carrying-arm. Fig.. 3 is a detail view showing by dotted lines the relative position of the twisting-bar when applying it to or removing it from a line-wire and by full lines the position of the said bar when engaged with the line-wire.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by the same reference-oharacters A machine for attaining theends of this invention will comprise a series of twistingbars, the number corresponding to the number of 4cables between J[he strands of which the pickets are bound. As shown, the machine comprises an operating-bar l and a series of wire-twisters, the latter consisting of a twisting-bar 2, a supporting-arm 3, and a clamp for adjustably connecting the supporting-arm with the operating-bar, whereby the position of the twisters can be shifted to-correspond to the location of the companion wires between which the pickets are to be secured.

The supporting-arm is composed of similar members 4, having offsets intermediate of their ends, whereby the outer or front portions are brought close together and the inner or rear portions spread so as to extend along the sides of the operating-bar. The rear ends of the members 4 are reduced and receive yoke-plates 5 and 6, between which is clamped the operating-bar l, the shoulders formed between the main portion of the members and the reduced ends limiting the forward movement of the yoke-plate 5, and the rear ends of the said members being threaded to receive nuts 7', by means of which the yoke-plates are drawn together, so as to bind against the sides of the operating-bar and secure the twister in the located position. One of the twisters,

preferably an intermediate one, has the yokeplate 6 replaced by a handle 8, or, in other words, the yoke-plate is extended at its ends, and the latter are bent and are connected by a cross-piece, forming the handle 8, substantially as shown.

The twister-bar 2 has pivotal connection with the outer ends of the members 4 and is mounted upon a pin or pivot 9, which connects the front ends of the said members, and in order to prevent binding between the members 4 and twister-bar washers 10 are mounted upon the pin or pivot 9 and are interposed between the opposing sides of the parts 2 and 4. Longitudinal slots 11 are located near the outer end of each twister-bar and are spaced apart a sufficient distance to admit of a picket being placed between the companion wires or strands of a cable in the construction of the fencing. Oblique passages l2 extend through an edge of the twister-bar and communicate with the longitudinal slots l1 and afford means for the ingress and egress of the wires when placing them in position or removing them from the longitudinal slots. By having the *passages 12 obliquely disposed the line-Wires are prevented from accidental displacement when the machine is in operation, since the twister-bars occupy a position at right angles to the line of fencing. In order to disengage the twisting-bars from the line-wires or to place them in position, it is essential that the twisting-bars be presented to the Wires at an angle corresponding to the Obliquity of the passages l2, as shown most clearly by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, and after the Wires have passed through the passages the twister-bars l are turned about at right angles to the line of fencing, as shown by the full lines in Fig.

8, thereby retaining said wires in place.

Vhen constructing a line of fencing, the companion wires or strands corresponding to the cables are attached at one end to a post, and their opposite ends have tension devices applied thereto, so as to insure a proper twisting and binding of the strands or companion wires about the pickets. The pickets are placed in position between the strands or companion wires of the cables one at a time in the usual Way, and the twisting of the companion wires is effected by moving the operating-bar vertically and simultaneously toward or away from the line of fencing, thereby giving to the Wires a complete twist and securing the pickets between them lin the usual way.

The several arms extend parallel 'to one another and about at right angles to the operating-bar, and the rear ends of their members have positive connection with the yoke-plates 5, thereby holding the parts together when the yoke-plates v6 are loosened to adjust the l arms or for any other purpose.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedas new isl. A hand fence-machine comprising in its construction an operating-bar, a series of arms adj ustably secured to the operating-bar, and twister-bars having pivotal connection with the said arms and provided near their free ends with .a pair of longitudinal slots closed at their ends, and having centrally-disposed oblique passages leading from a side of the slots through an edge of the twister-bars, substantially as shown for the purpose set forth.

2. A hand fence-machine comprising an operating-bar, a series of supporting-arms adjustable upon the operating-bar, each supporting-arm consisting of similar members having offsets intermediate of their ends and having their rear ends reduced and threaded, yoke-plates mounted upon the reduced ends of the members and disposed upon opposite sides of the bar, nuts mounted upon the threaded terminals of the said members for clamping the yoke-plates against the sides of the operating-bar, a yoke-plate of one of the supporting-arms being formed into a handle substantially as shown, and twister-bars having pivotal connection with the supportingarms and provided near their free ends with a pair of longitudinal slots closed at their ends, and having centrally-disposed oblique passages,the latter leading from a side of the slots through an edge of the bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM NVALLACE BARKER.

Witnesses:

C. J. RAY, M. E. VERMILLER. 

